At age 13, Leng M. Hang (a previous honor roll student), was consistently targeted with racism and bullying in Merced, California.  Even at this young age, he was already encountering gang-related violence, which made him desperate to have protection.  That desperation drove him to join a gang.  By age 19, in 1998, he was arrested and convicted for three counts of attempted murder in the first degree for a gang-motivated shooting. Being young, naïve, and lacking the full understanding of the law and its consequences, he was offered a plea bargain of 15 to 20 months (almost time-served) but he refused.  At his trial, he was sentenced to 57.5 years.

Leng has now served more than 23 years. He no longer gets into trouble (no major infractions since 2010).  His tenacity to flourish resulted in notable changes and immense improvements throughout the years, not solely for himself, but for others as well. To demonstrate, some of his accomplishments during incarceration are:

1.  Leng taught a Lean Manufacturing course to over 100 inmates. Additionally, he economized where necessary and saved his work place over $14,000 with lean projects.

2.  Leng wrote FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and USDA HACCP (United States Department of Agriculture, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) plans and food policies for DOC (Department of Corrections).  Additionally, he created critically essential operational rules to pass USDA inspections.

3.  Leng trained HACCP workers at AHFO (Airway Heights Food Operations) at AHCC (Airway Heights Corrections Center).

4.  Leng wrote the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) to create the Listeria Control Program for AHFO. 

5.  Leng has been educated in various courses and achieved a range of certificates (some from Walla Walla Community College), such as:  Redemption Project, Victim Awareness, Achieving Your Potential, Makin' It Work Program, Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Point, Fundamentals of Lean Manufacturing, Proficiency for Office Clerks, etc.

Moreover, Leng has taken manifold rehabilitation classes, he studies law, and files his own legal briefs. He currently works in product development for senior citizens, as well as learning how to code for building databases and websites. In his free time, he writes books in hopes of helping other people, especially teenagers who might be struggling through the same situations that he did in his youth.  He could potentially prevent a lot of kids from making the same terrible mistakes and they could have a better outcome in life.  

Leng says that he is now "A writer, not a fighter".  He has written a few books – two are being sold on Amazon and they’ve been purchased in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and South America. The book titles are: (1) Funny, Dirty Things Prisoners Do and (2) Bully, Gang, and Mass-Shooter Defense (most recently published).  The first book is funny and the second book teaches people simple techniques to prevent harm to themselves. It also teaches people how to be positive, overcome their fears to pursue success, and how simple acts of kindness have a ripple effect to prevent hatred and acts of violence.  It can help save lives.  Leng’s future plan is to open online organizations to uplift communities through the sharing of books.  

Leng has a few options for early release. 

1.    A new Washington Supreme Court case law requires sentencing judges to consider a youth’s age and immaturity, up to age 20, for a reduced sentence before sentencing them to a lifetime in prison. Leng’s youth and immaturity was never considered.

2.    Another newly passed law, RCW 36.27.130 (1) allows the prosecutor to petition the sentencing court to "resentence the offender if the original sentence no longer advances the interests of justice." After 23+ years in prison and already rehabilitated, Leng's sentence no longer advances the interest of justice.

3.    Leng may also be granted clemency. 

All of these options require that Leng has people to support his early release. Your signatures will impact that – they will be used to help sway judges, prosecutors, and the clemency board to reduce his 57.5-year sentence.  

Leng has made significant changes and accomplished numerous goals in the past two decades.  He truly deserves a second chance at freedom.  Please sign his petition and help him get his life back.  Thank you for your time and consideration. You may contact Leng at:

Leng M. Hang DOC# 797328
Airway Heights Corr. Cntr.
P.O. Box 2049
Airway Heights, WA 99001
www.jpay.com

Updated 9/16/25:   Recently, Leng has also published his third book: Cheating Signs and he has achieved an extraordinary 218 certificates in education and rehabilitation courses, including college level courses in: Business Law and Ethics, Principles of Management, and Principles of Marketing.